Louis lafoh



(No Model.)

LAFON. MACHINE FOR MAKING THE BODIES OI ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.

No. 290,436. Patented De0f18, 1883.

INVENTOR:

BY ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

Uivrrnn STATES LOUIS LAFON, OF

.ATENT Grrrcn.

NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MAKING THE BODIES OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,436, dated December18, 1883.

Application filed October 2, 1883.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS LAFON, of the city,county, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Making the Bodies of Artificial Flowers, ofwhich thefollowing is a full, clear,

and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide certain new and usefulimprovements in the machines used for making the cotton .balls or bodiesused in making artificial flowers, &c.

The invention consists in the combination, with a revolving needle orspindle on which the ball is formed out of fiber, of a patternplateprovided with an aperture of the shape that the ball is to have, inwhich aperture the ball is revolved while being made, whereby it obtainsthe shape of the said aperture.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation of my improved machine, parts beingshown in section on the line as :0, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a crosssectionalelevation of the same on the liney y, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are planviews of the pattern-plates used in the machine. Fig. 5 is a side viewof one of the balls.

A needle or spindle, A, is fastened on one end of ashaft, B, j ournaledin a frame, 0, and provided with a belt-pulley, D, or other suitablemeans for revolving it. A frame, E, is held on rods or bars F in such amanner that it can slide to and from the needle A. The frame Eisprovided on two opposite sides with raised rim E, forming a recess forreceiving a pattern-plate, G, which can be held in place in theframebyabinding-screw, H. The pattern-plate G has an aperture, J, of theshape of the ball or body to be formed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, theedges of which aperture are rounded from the top and bottom surface ofthe plate. The pattern-plate is provided with an aperture, K, extendingfrom one edge of the plate to the edge of the aperture J, through whichaperture K the needle A can pass.

The operation is as follows: The frame E is moved in the direction ofthe arrow a until (No model.)

the needle A passes through the aperture K and into the opening oraperture J. The needle, which is roughened at its end, is revolvedrapidly, and some cotton fiber, N, or wadding is brought in contact withthe roughened end of the needle, and is wound on the same very rapidly,whereby a ball will be formed. The surface of the ball or other body isshaped by coming in contact with the edges of the opening J in thepattern-plate, and thus the ball or body L will have the sameconfiguration as the opening in the pattern-plate G. When the ball isshaped, it is provided with a mucilaginous coating while revolving,which coating hardens and keeps the ball in shape and protects itssurface. The frame F is then moved in the inverse direction of thearrow, thereby withdrawing or removing the ball from needle. A wire anda piece of rubber tubing, M, are then secured to the ball in the usualmanner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a machine for making the bodies of artificialflowers, a pattern-plate having a central aperture for shaping the ballsor bodies, in combination with a revolving needle or spindle projectinginto the aperture in a plane parallel with the pattern-plate,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for making the bodies of artificial flowers, a pattern-plate provided with a central aperture having rounded edges, and of aform of the shape of the body to be formed, in combination with arevolving needle or spindle projecting into said aperture in a planeparallel with the pattcrn-plate, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

3. The combination, with a revolving needle or spindle on which fibrousballs or flowerbodies are formed, of a pattern-plate. provided with anaperture the edges of which give the ball or body the desired shape, andwith an aperture extending from one edge of the plate to the edge of theaperture in the plate, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination, with the revolving needle or spindle A, of thesliding frame E, and of the plate G, adapted to be held in the frame E,and provided with an aperture, J, and an tending from the edge of theplate G to the aperture, K, extending from the edge of the edge of theaperture J, substantially as herein 10 plate E to the edge of theaperture J, substanshown and described. tially as herein shown anddescribed. T 5 5. The combination, withthe revolvingnee- LOUIS LAFO) dle0r spindle A, of the sliding frame E, the XVitnesses: binding-screw H,and the pattern-plate G, \V. S. XVALKER, having an aperture, J, and anaperture, K, ex- C. SEDGWICK.

